Imphal, October 11 2009: Two working scribes were detained for about an hour by a team of Imphal West Police Commandos at about 10 pm yesterday on BT Road near the by-lane to Paona Bazar.

Strongly condemning the ill-treatment towards the scribes, All Manipur Working Journalists' Union, at a meeting held today, has resolved to stop publication of news related with Chief Minister O Ibobi, who is also looking after the charge of Home Department and his council of ministers, along with news related with the government developmental works till appropriate action is initiated against the high-handed police commandos involved in the incident.

The detention and ill-treatment towards the two scribes, A Birjit of Kangla Pao and Priyo Achom of Image TV, took place last night at about 10 pm when they came back home after duty of the day, AMWJU stated.

Even though, they identified themselves to be reporters and returning home after work of the day, apparently drunken police commandos interrogated them by standing apart, the statement of the AMWJU added.

The police commandos on duty, who alleged journalists maintaining link with the undergrounds, conducted body search for any illegal documents.

One of the police commandos not only kicked at one of the reporters but also threatened to shoot at by keeping his gun point at his head.

The police commando personnel with proud told them that when shoot to death them there none to stand against him.

Later with a warning to shoot at if they come on that side after 10 pm in future by standing with one leg only, the police commandos set them free.

The scribe body take seriously on the dealing of the police commandos towards the two reporters and strongly condemned the high-handed indiscipline manners of the police which acted like gunda, AMWJU stated.

AMWJU treated the action of the police commandos towards the scribes as part of arrogance manner of the force.

Police commandos biting people they show has turned towards the Press-Media too.

The incident is after the recently instant of threatening media houses by residents of Thoubal Leishangthem and Thoudam backed by police and distributing leaflet against the press.

The incident of threatening and harassing of media persons coming back from their duty using unpleasant words has showed that Manipur police is indiscipline "Rogue Police Force".

Now, it has been felt that higher rank police officers instructed their personnel to threaten press-media people when got the chances.

The incident showed that an end to the high-handed attitudes of the police personnel could not be rectified by taking up only the police commando personnel involved in yesterday's incident.

For making state police, a force respecting the people, press and others, there is the need of correction of personnel of all ranks in the state police force, AMWJU feels.

The meeting of the AMWJU observing this has decided to press the government to take up appropriate action to the police commando personnel involved in the incident of harassing the two scribes occurred last night between Shamumakhong and by-lane to Paona from BT Road.

Considering the need of correction of the police force from ill-treating and disrespecting the people, the meeting also resolved to press the government to make a policy to rectify the police force.

Till the demands are translated into works, AMWJU will boycott chief minister O Ibobi who is also in-charge of the state home department, his council of ministers and suspension of publication of news reports related with the developmental activities of the government effective from today, the statement added.

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